The Sacramento Kings are currently 16-27 this NBA season and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. At this point, it is kind of impressive that the Kings have been this bad all of these years, but at least they have tried to better themselves.
De’Aaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton seem like two core pieces to this roster in the backcourt, but the Kings are going to be “open for business” at the NBA trade deadline this season and it does not appear as they have “untouchables” on their roster.
Originally said to be off-limits in trade talks, both Fox and Haliburton could be leveraged by the Kings should they be able to get their hands on someone like Ben Simmons, an All-Star that Sacramento has been targeting all season long.
Maybe Simmons is not a realistic trade target for them, but what about another All-Star like Brandon Ingram? The New Orleans Pelicans currently find themselves 15-26 and in a very similar situation to that of the Kings.
Ingram has shown no signs of requesting a trade, but the 24-year-old All-Star just received a massive contract extension and is playing some of the best basketball of his career.
New Orleans may not offer much of an upside to him right now, hence why his status is worth monitoring heading into the NBA trade deadline.
Zion Williamson’s status this season and moving forward is in major doubt and the Pelicans’ biggest problem as a franchise right now is that their backcourt is a mess.
Devonte’ Graham has been a solid addition for the Pelicans this season, but he is not a franchise point guard. Finding someone to take the reins of this backcourt is going to be key for New Orleans moving forward, so could they look to target De’Aaron Fox this season?
Let’s take a look at a trade scenario that not only involves De’Aaron Fox and the Sacramento Kings, but Brandon Ingram and the New Orleans Pelicans.
Sacramento Kings Receive: F Brandon Ingram, G Tomas Satoransky, CLE 2022 2nd Round Pick (via NOP), LAL 2023 1st Round Pick (Swap, More Favorable to NOP – now SAC)
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G De’Aaron Fox, F Marvin Bagley III
Both sides would surely have to coerce one another into making this deal, but both the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans do need to try and make some changes to their roster this season.
The Kings need to upgrade their talent on the wing and as for the Pelicans, they really need a franchise point guard.
While he has not been an All-Star, De’Aaron Fox is one of the best players in the league 24-years-old or younger and brings a ton of upside to a team that already has a freak-athlete in Zion Williamson.